Every year, July 11 is observed as ‘World Population Day’. This event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. The day was chosen because it was on July 11, 1987 that the population of the world reached 5 billion. Today the world population has crossed 7 billion. According to one source [1], India, with 1.34 billion people is the second most populous country in the world, while China is on the top with over 1.41 billion people. The figures show that India represents almost 17.85% of the world’s population, which means one out of six people on this planet live in India.
Let us look at the statistics of our states in this context. Many of our states lie significantly low on the development index, while their population is more than that of many countries of the world. Population of Tamil Nadu is more than that of France. Odisha is more populous than Argentina. Population of Madhya Pradesh is more than that of Thailand. Maharashtra’s population is more than that of Mexico. In terms of geographical area, Brazil is one of the biggest countries in the world. But our Uttar Pradesh despite being so much smaller geographically is much ahead of Brazil in terms of population!
Some more examples are as follows: Population of Rajasthan is more than that of countries like Italy. Gujarat is much more populous than South Africa, as is West Bengal whose population is more than that of Vietnam. Several smaller states of our country also are more populous than some of the countries of the world. For example, smaller states like Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Kerala are much ahead of countries like Uganda, Austria, Canada and Uzbekistan in terms of population. To put it another way, population equal to that of many countries of the world taken together, lives within India.
The reasons for fast growth of population are as follows:
1. Steady growth in birth rate: Due to lack of education, large disparity in development, and weak implementation of family planning methods, there has been a steady growth in birth rate.
2. Consistent decrease in infant mortality rate: Due to significant improvement in medical and health-care facilities during the past few decades, and nationwide usage of preventive drugs / vaccines, the infant mortality rate has reduced considerably.
3. Rising life expectancy: In 1950, the life expectancy at birth in India was 36.2 years. This has increased to 68.3 years in 2015 [according to WHO population report 2016]. This rise has been due to improved living conditions, better health and hygiene, nutrition, education, etc.
4. Increased immigration: Due to rising population and poor living conditions, people from neighbouring countries are taking refuge in India for fulfilling even their basic needs.
The adverse effects of growing population in India are many. With the population growth rate at 1.2%, India is predicted to have more than 1.53 billion people by the end of 2030. This will lead to overpopulation, i.e., a condition where population surges to a level that the available space cannot accommodate it comfortably. The pressure on physical resources is visibly increasing. Economic disparity has significantly increased than earlier. A number of challenges like unemployment, improper health care, disintegration of families, poverty, starvation, malnutrition etc. have also increased. These challenges are actually being faced by many countries of the world as well. In our country there is a big dearth of education and awareness. As a result, people are not able to understand the fearsomeness of the problem of rising population for the future. Due to this growth, the entire world including India is beginning to face the danger of food shortage. Water shortage is also increasing continuously. Fast population growth has alarmingly increased the level of pollution. The fertility of land is decreasing and ground water is depleting very quickly too.
Population explosion has led to a large number of distortions. Number of people is increasing while the earth’s land area cannot increase nor can its geographical state. Population explosion has given rise to political, social and extreme economic problems in our country. Many environmental problems have also been generated by this because a big burden of the large population has to be supported by limited resources of nature. This adversely affects the quality of both life and nature. Providing even basic facilities like food, clothing and shelter becomes a great challenge when population is large. If enough attention is not paid to this problem now, it can create a great danger to the stability of the country.
Therefore, our first priority should be to check the growth rate of population. This is a difficult task but the proper planning of Government, implemented with courage and wisdom, and well-supported by the citizens, can accomplish it. For the benefit of our nation every citizen must be made aware of the ill- consequences of population explosion. Only then will we be able to get rid of the various related problems; and the country would then become happy and prosperous.
[1] Source: Indiaonlinepages.com
Let us look at the statistics of our states in this context. Many of our states lie significantly low on the development index, while their population is more than that of many countries of the world. Population of Tamil Nadu is more than that of France. Odisha is more populous than Argentina. Population of Madhya Pradesh is more than that of Thailand. Maharashtra’s population is more than that of Mexico. In terms of geographical area, Brazil is one of the biggest countries in the world. But our Uttar Pradesh despite being so much smaller geographically is much ahead of Brazil in terms of population!
Some more examples are as follows: Population of Rajasthan is more than that of countries like Italy. Gujarat is much more populous than South Africa, as is West Bengal whose population is more than that of Vietnam. Several smaller states of our country also are more populous than some of the countries of the world. For example, smaller states like Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Kerala are much ahead of countries like Uganda, Austria, Canada and Uzbekistan in terms of population. To put it another way, population equal to that of many countries of the world taken together, lives within India.
The reasons for fast growth of population are as follows:
1. Steady growth in birth rate: Due to lack of education, large disparity in development, and weak implementation of family planning methods, there has been a steady growth in birth rate.
2. Consistent decrease in infant mortality rate: Due to significant improvement in medical and health-care facilities during the past few decades, and nationwide usage of preventive drugs / vaccines, the infant mortality rate has reduced considerably.
3. Rising life expectancy: In 1950, the life expectancy at birth in India was 36.2 years. This has increased to 68.3 years in 2015 [according to WHO population report 2016]. This rise has been due to improved living conditions, better health and hygiene, nutrition, education, etc.
4. Increased immigration: Due to rising population and poor living conditions, people from neighbouring countries are taking refuge in India for fulfilling even their basic needs.
The adverse effects of growing population in India are many. With the population growth rate at 1.2%, India is predicted to have more than 1.53 billion people by the end of 2030. This will lead to overpopulation, i.e., a condition where population surges to a level that the available space cannot accommodate it comfortably. The pressure on physical resources is visibly increasing. Economic disparity has significantly increased than earlier. A number of challenges like unemployment, improper health care, disintegration of families, poverty, starvation, malnutrition etc. have also increased. These challenges are actually being faced by many countries of the world as well. In our country there is a big dearth of education and awareness. As a result, people are not able to understand the fearsomeness of the problem of rising population for the future. Due to this growth, the entire world including India is beginning to face the danger of food shortage. Water shortage is also increasing continuously. Fast population growth has alarmingly increased the level of pollution. The fertility of land is decreasing and ground water is depleting very quickly too.
Population explosion has led to a large number of distortions. Number of people is increasing while the earth’s land area cannot increase nor can its geographical state. Population explosion has given rise to political, social and extreme economic problems in our country. Many environmental problems have also been generated by this because a big burden of the large population has to be supported by limited resources of nature. This adversely affects the quality of both life and nature. Providing even basic facilities like food, clothing and shelter becomes a great challenge when population is large. If enough attention is not paid to this problem now, it can create a great danger to the stability of the country.
Therefore, our first priority should be to check the growth rate of population. This is a difficult task but the proper planning of Government, implemented with courage and wisdom, and well-supported by the citizens, can accomplish it. For the benefit of our nation every citizen must be made aware of the ill- consequences of population explosion. Only then will we be able to get rid of the various related problems; and the country would then become happy and prosperous.
[1] Source: Indiaonlinepages.com
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Page Titles
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